Current Information:

Age-21

58, Parkstone Road, Peckham

At the outbreak of war in 1914, the 3rd Royal Fusiliers battalion were in India but they soon returned home where they joined 85 Brigade of 28th Division. In late January, 1915, 28th Division arrived in France and being a regular division they were quickly put into the trenches which in the case of 85 Brigade meant water-logged positions south of Ypres near St. Eloi and Oosthoek. It was a far cry from the warmth of India and there were many cases of sickness and frostbite.

On 8th February, 3rd Royal Fusiliers moved into trenches at Ferme Chapelle south of the canal near Ypres where they remained until relieved on 11th February. Archibald Dolling was killed here on 9th February but the battalion diary sheds no light on his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.